Use custom resolution to run Skyrim faster on 1440p or 4K Screen - Comprehensive Guide (Optimisation and performance) (2024)

About this mod

Use 1200p or 1800p to reach a "not so bad" Ultra-wide experience ;) Could help when your GPU is not strong enough to use your big res monitor !

Use custom resolution to run Skyrim faster on 1440p or 4K Screen - Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

This guide is for people who for one reason or another have an unbalanced configuration (large screen with a small GPU) or who don't want to do without ENB while their PC is not keeping up. It's not an ideal or perfect solution and is not for people who want to get a perfect display quality but since it can't damage anything, it might be worth testing, right ? ;)

With the resolution scaling, you can gain some fps by reducing the density of the pixels displayed on the screen. So, if you're a bit short on performance, this guide can help you gain about ten percent more frames per second without sacrificing too much on the visual side. This method is not advised on 1080p monitor because pixel density on most display is already low, so i suggest you to avoid it.

So we're going to create a custom resolution that you'll have to use to play Skyrim (this works for other games).

If your fps fluctuates between the mid-50s and low-60s, frame pacing is constantly off-kilter, leading to a lower perceived frame rate. If you’re unable to hit 60 FPS at native res (or with custom resolution) you can lower it to 55 (should be indistinguishable from 60 Hz), at least you can try 50Hz, it is less responsive but better than 30Hz on console (old one, not last one).

To help you you can refer to this from Wikipedia.

For 3840 x 2160 => (3200 * 0.83 ) = 3187.2 & (2160 * 0.83) = 1792.8, so your resolution is 3200 x 1800
For 3440 x 1440 => (3440 * 0.83) = 2855.2 & (1440 * 0.83) = 1195.2, so your resolution is 2900 x 1200
For 1920 x 1080 => (1920 * 0.83) = 1593.6 & (1080 * 0.83) = 896.4, so your resolution is 1600 x 900

The lower the ratio, the lower the quality. Higher is your screen pixel density, higher ratio can be.
So Choose wisely and test, no general rules here.

Now we need to set things properly.

• On your desktop, right-click and selectAMD Radeon Settings from the menu that pops up
• When the AMD Radeon Settings window opens, click on theDisplaytab on the menu on the top of the window
• Click onGPU Scaling and switch it toOn
• Finally, choose the Scaling Mode that fits your needs
  

Method B:

• On your desktop, right-click and select AMD Catalyst Control Center from the menu that pops up
• When Catalyst Control Center opens, findMy Digital Flat Panels on the left-hand side bar and expand it
• Then, selectProperties (Digital Flat Panel)
• From the Properties (Digital Flat Panel) screen, checkEnable GPU up-scaling
• From there, choose the GPU scaling mode that suits your needs
• Finally, hit theApply button
  

With an NVIDIA Graphics Card (Only if you use a 10xx or above series)

• On your desktop, right-click and select NVIDIA Control Panel from the menu that pops up
• When the NVIDIA Control Panel opens, click onAdjust desktop size and positionunderneath the display tab on the left-hand menu
• In the ‘Adjust desktop size and position’ options, click the drop-down menu under ‘Perform scaling on’ button and selectGPU
• From there, select the scaling method and accompanying options that best fits your needs
  

Set the custom resolutionWith an AMD Graphics Card

• On your desktop, right-click and select AMD Radeon Settings from the menu that pops up
• Select Display, then Click Create in the Custom Resolutions menu
• An AMD Legal Disclaimer window will appear. If you agree, proceed to click on the Accept button
• Add the mode or timings you wish to create for your display.
• After clicking Save, Radeon Settings will check the compatibility of new settings with the display.
• If the new mode is accepted by your display, the new settings will be saved as a preset under the Custom Resolutions menu.
• When finished, close Radeon Settings
  

With an NVIDIA Graphics Card

• On your desktop, right-click and select NVIDIA Control Panel from the menu that pops up
• Select Change resolution to enter the change resolution panel. Make sure the monitor you wish to create a custom resolution for is selected under the text "1. Select the display you would like to change". Next click on the "Customize..." button.
• This will bring up the Custom window. Click on the "Create Custom Resolution..." button.
• An NVIDIA Legal Disclaimer window will appear. If you agree, proceed to click on the Accept button
• Add the mode or timings you wish to create for your display. Click on the Test button when you are ready to test the new display mode.
• If the new mode is accepted by your display, you will see a window similar to the one below asking you to confirm the new resolution. Choose Yes if you are satisfied to save the new preset. If the new mode fails the test, your screen will likely display an out of range message or black screen. After a few seconds your picture should return. This means that your display did not accept the new mode and you will not be able to add this new custom resolution
• If the new mode passed the test, you should see it listed in the Resolution list for your display.
  

CRU Method
You can try to use CRU (Custom Resolution Utility) as an generic alternative but it could not work for everybody

• Download latest version from the link above and unpack it.
• Run CRU as an administrator
• Under "Detailed Resolutions," click on Add.
• In the new Detailed Resolution, enter your custom resolution in the first 2 boxes (you don't need to modify other settings)
  
  
• Optional: Set a custom refresh rate. (55 can give you a significant boost with no noticeable inconvenient)
  
  
• Click ok and exit CRU
• Run restart64.exe as administrator (you will see a screen blink, don't panic it is normal)
  

Now the newly created custom display mode(s) can be applied through Windows Display settings or within the game/application graphics menuSet Skyrim resolution

• Edit skyrimprefs.ini
• set iSize H= to your Vertical axis value (1800 for ex)
• set iSize W= to your Horizontal axis value (3200 for ex)
• save & close
  

Before playing Skyrim

If you play in fullscreen, you don't have to do anything, game should switch automatically to your new custom resolution, if it doesn't or if you prefers to play in borderless mode, go to your windows settings and choose your new resolution.

Don't forget to set it to your usual resolution after playing.

You will notice that game looks a little bit more blurry, it is the drawback of this method, you can compensate by using a stronger sharpening in your ENB or Reshade.

My Ljóss preset provide an extra sharpening filter to help you to compensate this effect

• Open ENB GUI
• Go to enbeffectpostpass.fx, scroll down
• enable UseXtraSharpening
• Adjust to your taste (VisualizeSharpening can helps you to better understand what you change)
  
  

If you don't notice any improvement, it means the performance bottleneck is elsewhere.